Method and apparatus for treating fluids with solids



I. H. LEVlN Dec. 16, 1930.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FLUIDS WITH SOLIDS 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1 Flqd lNvENTo w/(e Dec. 16, 1930. I. H. LEVIN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FLUIDS WITH SOLIDS Filed June 1, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fm. Z

HVENTOR Patented Dec. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ISAAC H. LEVIN, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 GAS INDUSTRIES COMPANY,

PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A. COR- METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR..TREATING FL'UIDS WITH SOLIDS Application filed June 1,

The invention relates to the method and apparatus for treatin fluids with solids as are commonly required; for example, for the drying and purifying of gases under pressure.

Invention is particularly applicable to the art of liquefying air and light airs, the stor age of dry oxygen, acetylene and other gases, and in general to the many demands requiring air or gas, to be chemically free from water, vapor and other impurities.

Invention is not, however, limited to the above as it can be applied to dehydrating liquids as well.

5 I will describe an example of the use of my invention by referring to the drawings. F igures 1 and 2 are alike except for the setting of the valves as will hereinafter be explained. Like parts have like numbers in both views. A tube 1 of proper size and construction has an enclosure consisting of a block 2A and a cap 2. In the throat of the tube a perforated basket 3 is placed. Tl'llS basket is filled with a suitable filter mass.

The tube is filled to about the top of cap 6 with chunks of materials 7, inert to the reactions that take place in the tube. These chunks form a resting place and form as 1t were a false bottom for the reacting material 8, such as lump caustic soda and the like. Each of the three cylinders shown have the same interior make-up as above described. Any number of tubes-could be used but for convenience of description I am limiting it to 3 tubes although the invention could be taken advantage of if but 2 tubes were used.

A two-Way valve 4 with inlet either 10 or 9 permits air to enter from either one of the sources. The air leaves this valve and enters 5passes out under cap 6 up through the false bottom 7 and then through the reactlng mass 8. Here the air is dehydrated and the carbon dioxide is removed. The wet caustic soda runs down and wets the surfaces of the chunks of the materials and can be finally removed by opening valve 12. Exactly similar operations can be carried on with either of the tubes shown. In the operation of the process valves 12, 12a, or 12?) have to be 6 drained periodically. The slush dralned out 1925. Serial No. 34,073.

enters pipe 16 with "alve 13 and 14 on either end of same,

In the regular operation valve 14 is open and the slush can be collected in a suitable container if desired or simply vented to the sewer or the like, While valve 13 is closed. The exact function and use of this valve will be presented directly. I can perhaps best describe the use of the various interconnecting piping and valves as shown in Figure 1 by describing the flow of a stream of air as it passes through the apparatus.

Air enters 15, passes along the pipe and enters through 9 into valve 4 and thence into the first tube of the series. Note that the valve is shut against the opening 10; also that in the second tube the valve is shut against 9a and in the third tube the valve is shut against 96. The air passes through the tube as already described and out of same through opening 11. Valve 24 is shut against the flow of this air and the air passes down pipe 18,

into opening 10a and up the second tube of the series, and out through pipe 11a. Valve 25 is closed against the flow of air and the air passes down pipe 19 into the third tube through opening 106 out of the tube through openinillb. The air passes up through pipe 22-and y the valve 26 which is setopen and out through 15a to the point of use.

The reacting material in the first tube of the series will be called upon todo more work than the material in the other tubes and will be the first to be exhausted. The mate rial in the 2nd and 3rd tubes serves to clean up the last traces of the moisture and carbon dioxide left in the air after'same is treated in the first tube. When the reacting material of the first tube is exhausted it is cut out" of service and refilled and the valves are set as shown in Figure 2.

. The air entering at 15 cannot enter the first tube as the valve is set to close The valve of the second tube is set to open a passage between the opening 9a and the tube, while the valve of the third tube is set to close the passage between the opening 96 and the I tube. Valve 24 is set open and valves 25 and 26 are set closed.

The air enters the second tube, passes opening 9.

' last.

through the reacting material therein and out of the tube through pipe 11a down pipe 19 through opening 10?) into the third tube, through the reactingmaterial out of the tube through 11?) down pipe 17 through opening 10 into the first tube out of pipe 11 through pipe 20, valve 24 into pipe line 23 and out of the system through 15a. It will be noted that whereas in Figure 1 the first tube in the series was the first tube, into which the air passed in its travel through the system, this same first tube in Figure 2, however, is the last through which the air passes in its travel through the system. The tubes are thus rotated. At the very beginning of the process the first tube is the first of the series. As the material in the first tube is used up, the second tube becomes the first and the first tube the This can be continued so that when the second tube is exhausted, the material in it is replaced and it then becomes the last tube while the third tube becomes the first to receive the air. It will be noted that the last tube of the series always has the reacting material in its freshest and purest form and the maximum of purification can thus take place.

When the tube into which the air first enters has been run for some time it can be cut out of the battery and inspected without shutting down operations. \Vhen the material in this tube is exhausted same can be removed without shutting down operations. This tube is cut out of the battery as though same were to be inspected and the following procedure is employed.

The basket 3 is removed and the reacting material is poured into the throat of the tube until the material reaches say to within a few inches from the bottom of the basket 3.

Ver often there remains at the bottom of the tu e quite a residue formed from the reaction of the reacting mass and the impurities of the air, and it is desired to remove this residue and have the tube washed clean.

The removal of this material say from the first tube of the battery is accomplished as follows The tube is .first cut out of the battery. The two way valve in the second tube is turned to close off opening 10a and to open the passage 9a. The two way valve in the first tube is turned to shut off both passage 10 and 9. The first tube is now out of the path of the air. The air now passes up the second tube, out through 11a down 19 into 10?), up the third tube and out through valve 26line 23 and out of 15a. The cap is taken off the first tube. The basket 3 is removed and one is ready to refill the tube. Reacting material can now be poured into the throat of the tube to whatever height desired.

On the other hand it might be desired to first wash out the residue in the bottom of the cylinder before placing fresh material into the tube.

Valve 12 is opened full. Valve 14 is par tially closed. A water line is connected to valve 13 and the valve is opened slightly. The action that takes place is to send water up into the cylinder while at the same time permitting the solution of water and the reacting material (because it is heavier than water) to run down into line 16 and outof valve 14. The valves 14 and 13 are so adjusted that water can rise into the tube to any height desired.

The material goes into solution and passes out of the tube. The constant stream of fresh water that replaces the material prevents the formation of concentration that would freeze so to speak and solidify in the bottom of the tube.

Ifwater were to be poured into the tube through the top of same, the water running down through the reacting material would increase in concentration and become a solid mass of caustic.

It will be clearly noted that by the use of the invention herein described the reacting material can be removed without causing the tubes to clog.

The pieces 7 are wetted with a solution of caustic soda, and which can react with the carbon dioxide in the air. i

The pieces 7 act as wiping surface for oil or like material that is carried along with the air. These pieces furthermore cause the air to be distributed throughout the cross sectio of the tube.

While the above example refers to the purification of air the features of the invention are by no means limited to same.

The invention can be applied generally where fluids, gases or liquids, have to be brought in contact with solids.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for treating fluids, a casing having a fluid inlet end and a fluid out let end, a cap associated with the inlet end, and a valve controlled pipe dually functioning to discharge Water into the inlet end to flush same and to accommodate drainage therethrough.

2. In an apparatus for treating fluids, a casing having a'fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end, a valve controlled combined water supply and drainage pipe, means associated with said pipe for introducing water into the casing through the inlet end and simultaneously withdrawing a solution heavier than water from the casing through the said inlet end, by the utilization of the fiow in said valve controlled pipe.

3. In an apparatus for treating fluids, a casing having a fluid inlet end and a fiuid outlet end, a valve controlled pipe for introducing a fluid to the'casin through the inlet end, and a common means or introducing a liquid into the casing through the inlet end and simultaneously withdrawing a solution heavier than said liquid from the casing through the said inlet end.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of upstanding tubes through which material under treatment passes, inlet pas sage means adjacent the bases of said tubes, outlet passage means adjacent the top of the final tube, outlet passage means adjacent the top of and placing the other tubes in communication with the final tube, said outlet means for the final tube having a branch leading to the first tube adjacent the base of the latter. valves selectively controlling discharge of material through the inlet passage means and outlet passage means into and from the respective tubes, at flush pipe common to said tubes for injection of water into the tubes in an upward direction and for drainage of matter heavier than water therethrough, said flush pipe being in valved communication with the tubes adjacent the lower ends thereof and adapted to communicate with a source of water supply.

The method of removing used reaction material from a tube consisting in injecting into the material in an upward direction a liquid constituting a solvent for the material, and in permitting drainage of the solution produced toward the zone of injection and ,1 into the liquid solvent at a point below the point of injection.

In an apparatus for treating fluids, a tube adapted to contain a reacting mass, an inlet means adjacent the lower end of the tube for a fluid to be treated by said mass, :1 cap disposed over the discharge end of the inlet means, a mass of elements in the tube inert to the reacting mass extending to a level above the lower edge of the cap and serving as a false bottom to support the reacting mass,'and an outlet in the tube for treated material.

7. In an apparatus for treating fluids, a lube adapted to contain a reacting mass, an inlet means adjacent the lower end of the tube for a fluid to be treated by said mass, a mass of elements in the tube inert to the reacting mass and into which the inlet means discharges the material for treatment, the inert mass serving as a false botton to support the reacting mass, and an outlet from the tube for treated material.

H. In an apparatus for treating fluids, a tube adapted to contain a reacting mass, an inlet means adjacent the lower end of the tube for a fluid to be treated by said mass, a cap disposed over the. discharge end of the inlet means, a mass of elements in the tube inert to the reacting mass extending to a level above the discharge portion of the cap and serving as a false bottom to support the reacting mass, an outlet from the tube for treated material, and a pipe communicating with the tube at the zone occupied by the inert mass, said pipe enabling water to be injected in an upward direction into the reacting mass and the resulting solution to drain through said pipe.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of upstanding tubes through which material to be treated passes, inlet pipes adjacent the bases of said tubes, inlet passage means With which said nozzles communicate, outlet passage means adjacent the top of the ,final tube, outlet passage means adjacent the top of and placing the other tubes in com- -munication with the final tube, said outlet means for the final tube leading to the first tube adjacent the base of the latter, valves selectively controlling discharge of material through the inlet passage means and outlet passage means into and from the respective tubes, caps disposed over the discharge ends of the pipes, inert elements in the bases of the tubes rising to a level above the discharge portions of the caps, said elements constituting false bottoms for support of reacting material, and a flush pipe communicating with said tubes at the zones occupied by said inert elements for injection of water into the tubes in an upward direction and for drainage of matter heavier than water through said flush pipe, said flush pipe being in valved communication with the tubes adjacent the lower ends of the tubes and adapted to communicate with a source of water supply.

10. The method of removing a used water soluble dehydrating agent from a tube consisting in injecting water into the said agent in an upward direction and in draining the solution thus produced in a downward direction from the tube.

11. The method of removing a used water soluble dehydrating agent from a tube consisting in injecting water into the said agent in an upward direction and in draining the solution thus produced in a downward direction from the tube through the same means which supplies the water.

12. The method of removing a used water soluble dehydrating agent from a tube consisting in injecting water into the sodium hydroxid in an upward direction and in, simultaneously therewith, draining the solution thus produced in a downward direction from the tube, and into the water at a point below the point of injection.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ISAAC H. LEVIN. 

